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Are you battling acne with no effective solutions? Well, you are on the right page with us! Acne can be a problematic chronic issue throughout the year. However, sometimes it may get triggered due to changes in weather or lifestyle changes as well. One such condition that triggers acne is the winter season. Yes! Cold and dry weather can bring on more acne. However, you can take certain precautions for controlling acne in the winter season.
GS Hospital Ghaziabad, the Skin Specialist Hospital in Delhi NCR promotes the concept that “Skin speaks volumes about your inner health.” The hospital aims to spread awareness about acne which is dealt with by many people across the globe. Apart from providing treatments and the best solutions for skin-related problems, this Best Dermatologist Hospital in Ghaziabad has a team of dedicated dermatologists who have expertise in treating skin problems with comprehensive solutions through medications, lifestyle changes, diet, and exercise.
In this context, GS Hospital shares valuable insights on one such skin condition which triggers in winter due to cold dry weather. Yup! You guessed it right. It's ACNE. Let us kickstart this skin blog on why acne triggers in cold dry weather. Before we take a deep dive into this topic, let us take this forward with a sneak peek into “Winter Acne”.
Winter acne is considered seasonal acne which tends to be more severe and challenging at times to manage during the cold season or winter months. The majority of us are inclined towards treating summertime skin issues due to sun, heat, and sweating. But, winter acne has its challenges.
Yes, it's true! The main reason behind winter acne is excessive dry skin which may result in a damaged skin barrier. A damaged skin barrier causes skin issues to crop up in winter making it more vulnerable to skin damage. People who are already battling with chronic acne tend to struggle with healing and maintaining clear skin during winter.
Yup! This calls for exclusive treatment for winter acne under the care of professional dermatologists. The real reason behind the struggle of winter acne is also the treatment involved in skin care. The majority of chronic acne are treated with acne-fighting solutions and skin-drying ointment which may further trigger the acne in winter. Some of the common acne treatment solutions are benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinoids. This requires a personalized skincare routine for the best treatment under the guidance of your dermatologist.
Winter can be very tough for the skin due to winter acne. Let us go ahead and explore the reasons behind winter acne.
The cold dry weather, windy environment, and lack of humidity both indoors and outdoors can strip off the moisture of the skin. This causes skin dryness which triggers a compensatory mechanism causing the production of additional sebum from the oil glands to reach optimal hydration. Too much oil and sebum production can cause dead skin cells and acne bacteria to crop up leading to flare-up of acne.
A dip in temperature can result in chilly weather. This causes the usage of hot showers which results in excessive stripping of moisture. Skin dryness causes damaged skin barrier leading to inflammation and irritation of the skin. This causes peeling, flaking, and clogged pores due to dead skin, blackheads, and whiteheads resulting in acne flare-ups in winter. Moreover, a damaged skin barrier affects the skin’s immunity to fight bacterial infection which triggers further skin problems.
Change in lifestyle during the winter season directly affects the skin. Let us not forget the cozy mornings that make us lethargic and lazy to get out of bed and exercise. Moreover, winter is also time for Christmas and New Year which causes changes in diet allowing you to indulge in more sweets. Lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet during winter can be detrimental not only to skin health but also to overall health.
As the name suggests, winter acne occurs mainly in the cold and dry season during winter months in India and globally. Winter acne mainly occurs when the temperature remains at lower degrees or below freezing points for over a week which results in low humidity levels.
Winter acne affects different parts of the body which may vary from person to person depending on skin type, degree of sensitivity to cold weather, gender, age, and skincare routine. Here is the list of body parts affected by winter acne which are as follows:
Out of these common parts of the body, the face is more prone to winter acne breakouts due to the presence of oil-producing glands. This mainly causes acne flare-ups more as compared to other parts of the body.
The high-risk factors of winter acne are as follows:
For this reason, it is important to take appropriate steps to keep your skin hydrated and in the best of health during winter conditions to reduce the risk of acne flare-ups and breakouts in winter.
If you are struggling with winter acne, it's important to take early action before it's too late. Reach out to the best dermatologist who will provide you with comprehensive treatment by crafting a skincare routine before it's too late. It is important to address the acne issues right away!
Let us provide you with the best-recommended wintertime acne skincare routine for you.
1. Moisturization: It is important to keep dryness at bay by using the proper moisturizer for acne-prone skin. Rather than slathering moisturizer to prevent dryness, it is important to use thin layers of moisturizer to allow it to get completely absorbed into the skin.
2. Check the moisturizer contents: It is important to check the contents of the moisturizer and look out for natural elements of hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid which works as a humectant to lock in moisture. Your dermatologist is the best person to recommend the right moisturizer for you based on your skin type.
3. Use oil-free and paraben-free moisturizer: It is important to use thin textured moisturizer which is dermatologically tested rather than indulging in thick cream-based moisturizers which will trigger acne-prone skin by clogging the pores. Look out for oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizers with potent acne-fighting elements for your skin.
4. Best time for moisturization: It is recommended to use moisturizer daily post-shower which helps to soothe irritated and dry skin. Allow the moisturizer to get completely absorbed for 60 seconds and follow up with your daily skin care routine.
5. Choose a perfect cleanser: It is important to choose a gentle cleanser for your skin in winter that does not strip off the moisture. Use a gentle cleanser recommended for sensitive skin for winter acne as the skin barrier is very delicate during this season due to environmental changes. Switch over from a foaming sulfate cleanser to sulfate sulfate-free creamy cleanser. This reduces skin irritation during winter months.
6. Exfoliate once a week: It is important to use a gentle exfoliating product for your skincare routine. Follow the most gentle process and be kind to your skin while exfoliating.
7. Consult your Dermatologist: It is important to consult your dermatologist if you plan to use ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide which are formulated for acne. These ingredients may take away the natural moisture from your skin making it further dry and damaged. Consult your skin doctor who will guide you to the right potency of these ingredients which is suitable for your skin during the winter months.
8. Always use your sunscreen: Even though it is cold outside, it is recommended to use sunscreen daily. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or more every day during winter months.
9. Avoid touching your skin frequently: It is important to avoid touching your skin frequently which may lead to the transfer and spread of bacteria. Avoid picking or popping your acne or blemishes.